Allan Belcher

{{Short description|Australian rules footballer and coach}}

{{Distinguish|Alan Belcher}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Allan Belcher

| image = Allan Belcher 1910.jpg

| caption = Belcher in 1910

| fullname = Allan Mitchell Parker Belcher

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1884|12|2}}

| birth_place = New Norfolk, Tasmania

| death_date = {{death date and age|1921|7|2|1884|12|2|df=yes}}

| death_place = Kew, Victoria

| originalteam = Brunswick (VFA)

| height = 179 cm

| weight = 86 kg

| position = Ruckman

| statsend = 1919

| coachstatsend = 1910

| repstatsend = 1911

| years1 = 1904

| club1 = {{AFL Col}}

| games_goals1 = 4 (1)

| years2 = 1906–1919

| club2 = {{AFL Ess}}

| games_goals2 = 176 (40)

| games_goalstotal = 180 (41)

| sooteam1 = Victoria

| sooyears1 = 1906, 1907, 1911

| coachyears1 = 1910

| coachclub1 = {{AFL Ess}}

| coachgames_wins1 = 19 (12–7–0)

| careerhighlights = *Essendon premiership captain 1912

• Essendon captain 1910, 1912–1915, 1919

}}

Allan Belcher (2 December 1884 – 2 July 1921{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4698957 |title=Family Notices. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=4 July 1921 |accessdate=29 March 2013 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}) was an Australian rules footballer who played with and coached Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He was the brother of South Melbourne player Vic Belcher.

Belcher started his career with Collingwood but it was with Essendon that he established himself as one of the premier ruckmen in the league. Known as "King Belcher" formed a combination in the ruck with Fred Baring and Ernie Cameron,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74253118 |title=Tradition Barred at the Turnstiles. |newspaper=Frankston Standard |location=Frankston, Vic. |date=3 November 1949 |accessdate=29 March 2013 |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia}} culminating in premiership success in 1912.

He was captain-coach of Essendon in 1910 and represented Victoria at interstate football in patches during his career. From 1912 to 1915 he captained the club and again in 1919 but it would be his final season, a broken toe forcing him to retire.{{cite book|last1=Ross|first1=John|title=100 Years of Australian Football|date=1996|publisher=Viking Books|location=Ringwood, Australia|isbn=9781854714343|pages=382}}

On 2 July 1921 – just two years after his last VFL game – Belcher succumbed to general paralysis in the Kew Hospital for the Insane. His once-robust frame had wasted away to just 57 kg by the time of his death.{{cite news |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-09-25/belcher-brothers|title=The Belcher brothers: a grand tragic tale| date=25 September 2013 |publisher=AFL}}